Inflation apparatus



3, 1965 B. R. A. REFFELL ETAL 3,198,020

INFLATION APPARATUS Filed May 25, 1963 //Vl ENTOk6 BRIAN RICHARD ARNOLD REFFELL LAURENCE ARTHUR CLAY-SMITH 444w gm TORA/E) 3,198,020 INFLATKQN APEARATUS Brian Richard Arnoid Reifell, Southall, Middiesen, and Laurence Arthur Clay-Smith, Northoit, Middlesen, England, assignors to The Waiter Kiddo Company Limited, Northoit, Middlesex, England, a British company Filed May 23, 1963, Ser. No. 282,718 Claims priority, application Great Britain, May 25, B62, 20,154/62 3 Claims. (Cl. 74-2) This invention relates to an inflation device and in particular to an inflation device for automatically inflating an inflation bag, such as an inflatable dinghy or lifejacket, when the device is immersed in water.

The object of this invention is to provide an inflation device which can be preset so as to initiate the inflation operation when the inflation bag has been submerged to a prearranged depth below the surface of the water.

The device of the present invention is of especial value when employed in conjunction with an inflatable dinghy which, in deflated condition, is secured as a personal pack to an airman or other personnel. This kind of personalpack dinghy is adapted to be inflated automatically when the wearer drops into the water, which could be when the wearer is seriously wounded, unconscious or numbed. All such conditions of incapacity make it impossible for a person to board a dinghy or the like after its inflation.

Known inflation devices release gas automatically from a storage tank when immersed in water and depend upon the disintegration of a soluble plug (or upon the expansion of a material which swells in Water) to effect release of a spring-loaded plunger which opens the gas storage tank. When used in an inflated dinghy, worn deflated by an airman as a personal pack, such a wateractuated inflation device is provided with a locking element adapted to hold it against actuation until the airman has been separated from some part of the aircraft, usually an ejector seat. After release of the locking element,

a short immersion (about l5 seconds) of the inflation device in water causes the soluble plug (or other watersensitive element) to effect release of gas to the dinghy.

To prevent premature disintegration of a soluble plug (or some equivalent action of another form of watersensitive element), the plug may be shrouded.

An airman may eject from an aircraft by means of an ejector seat after the aircraft has crashed into the sea and successful ejections have taken place at considerable depths below the surface. It is, however, undesirable for a personal-pack dinghy to be inflated until the airman has floated up to a relatively shallow depth and in order to ensure that premature actuation of the inflation device does not take place there is provided, according to the present invention, means for holding the shroud in a position in which it protects the water-sensitive element, so long as the inflation device is submerged to more than a predetermined depth. Preferably the shroud is ultimately controlled by a spring-loaded member, which is held against movement in a shroud-releasing direction until the airman has separated from an ejector seat, which is effective to withdraw a locking member from the inflation device. The spring-loaded member constitutes a plunger in a cylinder, one face of the plunger being exposed to ambient pressure to press the plunger against its spring to hold it from movement in the shroud-releasing direction until the ambient pressure falls below a predetermined value, which corresponds to, say, the pressure at a depth of 10 feet below the surface of the sea.

These shroud-controlled means have a primary function in the event of an underwater ejection until the airman United States Patent 0 has floated up to a relatively shallow depth, and a secondary purpose of operating in the event of an ejection when airborne to uncover said element before immersion so that disintegration of the element or equivalent action commences on immersion.

By way of example, the single figure of the accompanying drawing illustrates the application of the present invention to a delayed-action release device employing a water-sensitive element, in this case, a soluble plug, to effect delivery of gas to an inflatable dinghy, the device being shown in longitudinal section.

The general construction of the water-operated release device itself is similar to that described in United States Patent No. 3,080,582, March 12, 1963.

For initial release of high pressure gas from storage to a small bore tube is secured to the main buoyancy tube of a dinghy, the small bore tube on the admission of gas thereto tending to straighten out and thus unfold the inflatable dinghy which, in a deflated condition, is carried by 'an airman as a personal pack. Full inflation of the dinghy is effected from a separate gas storage tank which is brought into use by operation of further water-operated release devices as gas bled from the above-mentioned high pressure tube acts thereon.

In the accompanying drawing, component parts equivalent to those used in the patent referred to are given the same reference numbers. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to use with a gas releasing means functioning in the manner described in the patent referred to.

The water-operated release device 7, as described in the patent, comprises a body including a casing 20 secured to an outer cover 39 through a tubular part 26 housed within a covering 42, and to this assemblage of screwed-together components an extension is provided for accommodating operational depth regulating means according to the present invention. This extension comprises a cylinder I screwed into an adaptor 2 which in turn is screwed into the cover 39.

The cylinder 1 accommodates a slidable plunger 3 carrying a U-section washer 4. In the sealed-off space above the plunger 3 there is a coiled compression spring 6, which is located between an adjusting nut 17 on the shank of the plunger 3 and a cylinder end cap 9, which is removable for access to the plunger 3, the position of the nut 1'7 along the plunger shank (lockable by a set screw 10) determining the effective force of the spring 6, and as will appear later, the operational or functional depth of the release device.

Coaxial with plunger 3 is a spindle 11 accommodated in a housing 12 having a flange clamped between the cylinder 1 and adaptor 2, the spindle 11 being biased by a spring 13 to a position in which the lower end of the spindle presses one or more latching balls 14 outwardly in cross holes 15 in the housing 12. When thus supported the balls 14 prevent endwise displacement of a shroud 4% due to the force of a spring 41, which shroud encloses a soluble plug 35 and precludes any disintegration thereof by reason of premature access of moisture.

The plunger 3 is held against displacement due to its spring 6 by a locking element 8, provided in this case in the form of a pin. When this locking element is removed in the manner and under the conditions described in the patent referred to in column 3, lines 12 to 15, and the water-operated release device 7 (with the additional parts provided according to this invention) becomes submerged in water below its functional depth, the pressure of water entering through apertures 5 of the cylinder 1 and acting upon the plunge 3 will tend to force the plunger back into the cylinder against the resistance of the spring 6.

As the submerged device 7 approaches the surface of the water, (that is, in this supposed case, is carried up- Wards as the airman equipped with a packed inflatable dinghy-floats to the surface) the water pressure becomes insuflicient to resist tthepressnre of the spring '6, with 'the' result that the plunger 3. is spring-urged forward and carries with it the spindle ll which moves against the a resistance of the resetting spring 13. This brings a reduced portion 16 of the spindle 11 into line with the balls 14in the holes 15, so that the balls may move furtherinto the holes 15 and the hitherto trapped shroud 40 is 'displaced endwise by its spring 41, thereby raising the lower end of the shroud above the lower end of'the soluble plug;

35 and exposingthe plug to the disintegrating actionof water entering the cover 39 through'apertures 38. Until V the plug" 35 breaks up it prevents movement of a release spindle 32. -When the release spindle is retracted by a spring 43 and ceases to support balls 27, as described in I the patent referred to, and thus releases a plunger 24 loaded by a spring 44 to piercethe sealing diaphragm of a gas bottle secured in a'socket 21. i Gas released from the pierced bottle passes through a gas outlet 22 for inflation purposes.-

Itwill be understood can be accurately regulated; i

It will also be appreciated from the foregoing descrip tion that it has been assuinedthat the locking pin 8 is removed as the result of ejectionof'the airman on being submerged, means'for suchfself-e'jection on submersion being well' known. The apparatus described also operates, however, in the event of the" airman bailing out of an 1 aircraft, with consequentwithdrawal of .the locking'pin.

In that event the plunger 3, under'press'ure-ofthe spring.

6 is immediately propelled forward and acting through spindle 11 ,releases the'shroud 40 to expose the plug 35,

and in this case the exposed plug 35 begins to disintegrate as soon as it becomes immersed inthe water. 7 a

Upper and lower O-rings 45 and46 seal oif the ends of the shroud 40 against the entry of moisture and waterrto maintain the plug'35 dry until exposed. i

We claim: a 1. An inflation device for the release of gas from a storage tank comprising in combination abody having a.

water entry aperture therein and being formed with internal apertures, a spring-loaded gas-storage opening plunger slidably mounted in said body and normally in a cocked position, radially movable locking members in apertures in said plunger, normally held in a radiallyout wardlyprojectin-g' position to engage an abutment in the.

body, a release spindle extending between said locking members to hold thesamein such position, spring means biasing said release spindle in a locking member-releasing direction; afixed abutment, a water-soluble plug bearing against said abutment and obstructing the movement of said release spindle, shroud means normally in aposition surrounding said water soluble plug to protect said from the foregoing description that by careful adjustment of the nut 17 on the shank of plunger 3,1the submerged depth at which the soluble plug 35 becomes exposed torthe disintegrating action of water radially projecting position and a portion of reduced diamete'r, spring means pressing said shroud means-release spindle against a fixed abutment to hold said enlarged end in register with said locking members associated therewith, a spring-loaded plunger for moving said shroud means lock release spindle against the pressure of said spring means associated therewith to bring the portion of reduced diameter of said last mentioned spindle into register with said shroud means lock members, a Withdrawable safety memberfor normally holding said spring-load plunger in a cocked position, and an enclosed cylinder having a wall,'said plunger ,moving in sealed relation with the wall of said enclosed, cylinder, aperture means being provided in said cylinder to admit water to one face of said plunger to prevent motion of said'plunger under the influence of its spring pwhen said device is'submerged in water to more than a predetermined depth.

' 2. An inflation device for the release of gas from a storage container automatically upon immersion of said device inwater, comprising shroud means positioned for protection of a water-sensitive element in' the device 7 against premature contact with water, mechanism for releasing said shrould means and moving the same out of its element protecting position, a withdrawable safety membenfor locking said mechanism to maintain said 1 shroud means. in the element-protecting position until removal of said safety member; has been effected, and pres- .sure sensitive means preventing actuation-ofsaid mechanism and the release of said shroud means from the element-protectingpositionso long as the device is subjected to a pressure in excess of a predetermined pressure,

whereby said shroud means are held in position so long as the device is submerged in water to, more than a predetermined depth. 1: r e

SQAdevice according to claim 2, wherein said shroud 'means releasing rnechanisrn and said pressure sensitive means. include a'cylinder having a wall, and a spring loaded plunger movable in sealed relation with said wall and normally restrainedby said safety member, one end of said cylinder being open to admit water thereto to op-' pose the spring-load on said plunger.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 701,329 6/02 Graham et al. 222-5 2,894,658 7/59 Spidy 2225 3,015,414' 1/62. Wilson 2225 3,080,582 3/63, Reifell 9-2 BROUGHTON: G. DURHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN INFLATION DEVICE FOR THE RELEASE OF GAS FROM A STORAGE TANK COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A BODY HAVING A WATER ENTRY APERTURE THEREIN AND BEING FORMED WITH INTERNAL APERTURES, A SPRING-LOADED GAS-STORAGE OPENING PLUNGER SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID BODY AND NORMALLY IN A COCKED POSITION, RADIALLY MOVABLE LOCKING MEMBERS IN APERTURES IN SAID PLUNGER, NORMALLY HELD IN A RADIALLY OUTWARDLY PROJECTING POSITION TO ENGAGE AN ABUTMENT IN THE BODY, A RELEASE SPINDLE EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID LOCKING MEMBERS TO HOLD THE SAME IN SUCH POSITION, SPRING MEANS BIASING SAID RELEASE SPINDLE IN A LOCKING MEMBER-RELEASING DIRECTION, A FIXED ABUTMENT, A WATER-SOLUBLE PLUG BEARING AGAINST SAID ABUTMENT AND OBSTRUCTING THE MOVEMENT OF SAID RELEASE SPINDLE, SHROUD MEANS NORMALLY IN A POSITION SURROUNDING SAID WATER SOLUBLE PLUG TO PROTECT SID PLUG FROM WATER ENTERING THROUGH SAID WATER ENTRY APERTURE, SPRING MEANS BIASING SAID SHROUD MEANS AWAY FROM SUCH POSITION, LOCKING MEMBERS HOLDING SAID SHROUD MEANS IN SUCH POSITION AND RADIALLY PROJECTING FROM SAID INTERNAL APERTURES, A SHROUD MEANS LOCK RELEASE SPINDLE SLIDABLE IN SAID BODY, SAID LAST MENTIONED SPINDLE HAVING AN ENLARGED END TO HOLD SAID LOCKING MEMBERS IN SUCH RADIALLY PROJECTING POSITION AND A PORTION OF REDUCED DIAMETER, SPRING MEANS PRESSING SAID SHROUD MEANS RELEASE SPINDLE AGAINST A FIXED ABUTMENT TO HOLD SAID ENLARGED END IN REGISTER WITH SAID LOCKING MEMBERS ASSOCIATED THEREWITH, A SPRING-LOADED PLUNGER FOR MOVING SAID SHROUD 